Barcelona Reportedly Monitoring Sporting Starlet Jovane Cabral

Barcelona are reportedly keeping tabs on Sporting CP starlet Jovane Cabral after the youngster earned a place in their first-team plans this season. 

Cabral, 20, has been pushed into Sporting's senior side after several seasons in the B ranks, and O Jogo (h/t Goal) reported the reigning La Liga champions have been made aware of his talents.

The winger moved to Lisbon from his native Cape Verde in 2014 and has made his first three Primeira Liga appearances this season, recording one goal and two assists in the process.

Cabral came on to net the only goal in a 1-0 win over Feirense on Saturday, and writer Jamie Farr marvelled at his impact after finding the back of the net in the Primeira Liga for the first time:

According to the report, the Lions are hoping a new contract complete with €45 million (£41 million) buyout clause will be sufficient to steer suitors away from his signature.

Cabral is a senior Cape Verde international and made his debut for the national team in a 2-0 friendly win over Luxembourg in March 2017, though that remains his only appearance for the side.

Capable of playing on either flank, the youngster would be a more natural wide asset for Barcelona than, say, Philippe Coutinho, meaning he could offer an alternative to the likes of Ousmane Dembele or Malcom.

It's not surprising this has been the season for Cabral to begin exploding onto the scene, too, after writer Mohammed Ali revisited the story of numerous first-team stars cancelling their contracts over the summer:

Sporting will naturally look to their youth as a source for strength in the meantime, and Cabral is already paying back the faith after having a direct hand in a goal per league appearance.

A prolific start to life among Sporting's stars has indicated Cabral is capable of making the step up, with the Blaugrana eager to keep track of his progress in the Portuguese capital.